5 killed, 20 hurt in road mishaps

Five people were killed while 20 others suffered injuries in two road accidents in Tabaco, Albay and Mamburao, Mindoro Occidental Saturday morning.

In Tabaco City, an owner-type jeep plunged into a ravine, leaving two of its passengers dead and nine others injured, police said.

Reports said the victims were en route to Barangay Joroan in Tiwi town, where pilgrims go on weekends to pay homage to the Nuestra Señora de Salvacion.

Meanwhile, in Mamburao, Mindoro Occidental, a passenger bus smashed into a van along the national highway, killing the van driver and two others and injuring 11 more people.

Police quoted witnesses as saying that van driver Rodel Insigne avoided a piece of wood on the road, causing the vehicle to swerve to the left and ram the CBG-La Familia bus. Both vehicles were traveling toward the Mamburao town proper. — Celso Amo, Arnell Ozaeta